Man Of Integrity Versus Multiple Principalities: Odinkalu On the Crucible Awaiting INEC’s New Chairman

Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has affirmed that the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, is a man of unimpeachable integrity.

However, Odinkalu issued a stark warning that this very integrity will be tested by what he described as the “multiple principalities” – a complex web of entrenched political interests and internal compromise – that dominate the electoral body.

Speaking on Channels Television’s current affairs program, Politics Today, Odinkalu, a renowned human rights lawyer, drew a clear distinction between the man and the institution he now leads.

He stated unequivocally that Prof. Amupitan’s personal character is beyond doubt, but emphasized that INEC is notoriously difficult to manage due to the pervasive influence of politicians who have strategically placed their allies within the commission’s workforce.

“There is no senior politician, from the presidency to state governors, who does not have a plant in INEC,” Odinkalu revealed, painting a picture of an institution where national duty is often subverted by partisan loyalties.

This environment, he argued, creates a governance nightmare where the new chairman’s directives may be subtly or overtly undermined from within.

In a poignant moment that underscored the gravity of the situation, the self-professed non-religious Odinkalu stated, “I’m not a particularly religious person, but I’ll tell him that because he is who he is, I’ll be praying for him.”

Beyond spiritual support, he offered practical advice, urging Amupitan to immediately set clear priorities and establish measurable goals for his tenure.

Odinkalu left no room for ambiguity regarding the new INEC boss’s first major test, declaring that Nigerians would judge his leadership by his management of the upcoming November 8 Anambra State governorship election, a high-stakes poll that will set the tone for his chairmanship and either reinforce or shatter public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.